Hub-shield



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER P. MOREHOUSE, OF CEDAR BLUFFS, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN SIEVERS, JR, OF AMES, NEBRASKA.

HUB-SHIELD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 588,163, dated August 17, 1897. Application filed February 25, 1897. Serial No. 624,953. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER P. MORE- HOUSE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Blufis, in the county of Saunders and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hub Shields or Gaps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in a device for holding a cover or shield over the inner end of a vehicle-hub to protect the axle from dirt or other foreign matter which would otherwise find its way into the hub at this point. The shield also gives protection against ladies skirts coming in contact with the grease, usually plentiful at this point.

The object of my invention is to provide a holder for the cover or shield which can be readily applied to the axle and will permit of the said cover or shield being removed and a new one placed in position.

With the above ends in view the invention consists in the particular construction of the holder, in connection with the particular shape of the shield or cap, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a view showing the application of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the holder. Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the upper end of said holder.

The holder, which is applied to the axle to hold the shield or cap in place, is constructed or formed to present the side members 1 1, connected by a curved cross-bar 2, having a transverse opening 3 extending through the same. This transverse opening is intersected by a vertical aperture 4 at the upper part of the cross-bar and threaded to receive a thumb-screw 5, the lower end of which is adapted to enter the said transverse opening for the purpose hereinafter set forth. The upper end of the thumb-screw may be formed in the usual manner, or it may be shaped to present a ball, milled to provide a roughened grasping portion, and when the ball .is provided it presents a better finish.

At the lower end of each spring member 1 1 of the holder is formed a seriesof ratchetteeth 6, with which engages a link 7. of such length that the cross-bars at the ends of the same will engage the saidratchet-teeth. The link is held or supported in engagement with one of the members by means of a loop 8. The members 1 1 are normally spread slightly, and when placed over the axle can be clamped securely thereon by slipping the link over the ends of said members to engage the ratchetteeth 6, one end of the link being enlarged to provide for better manipulating the same.

In connection with the holder hereinbefore described I use a cover or shield 9,'having a reduced end a, which fits into the transverse opening 3 of the holder and is held securely therein by the thumb-screw 5. Adjoining the extension to the shield is provided with a slightly-raised portion 1), which fits over the end of the hub, and beyond said raised portion the shield corresponds with the contour of the hub, the end of said shield adjoining the spokes being either scalloped, as shown, or made plain. At the rear end of the shield proper there are straight flaps c, which bear against the axle and prevent ingress of dirt or foreign matter. In case the holder cannot be conveniently placed adjoining the hub the reduced portion a may be extended. The shield or cover is preferably made up of japanned leather or sheet metal. It will also be understood that instead of forming the upper part of the clamp or holder with transverse opening and thumb-screw the crossbar 2 can be made plain and the shield held between said cross-bar and upper edge of the axle, but I prefer to construct the holder as herein shown and described, for it can be made to present a very ornamental appearance and will effectually hold the shield in proper place.

Having thus described my invention, what 95 I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with a cover or shield shaped to lie over the inner end of the hub of a vehicle, of a clamp or holder for holding I00 the said shield in place comprising spring members 1 1 connected by a bar 2, the lower end of the spring members having ratchetteeth, and a link of sufficient length to engage the ratchet-teeth when placed over the end of the said spring members, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

2.In combination with a cover or shield shaped to lie over the inner end of the hub of a vehicle, of a clamp or holder for holding the shield in place consisting of the spring members 1 1 connected by bar 2 and diverging therefrom, ratchet-teeth formed on the outer edges of the members, a loop extending over one series of ratchet-teeth, and a link held in engagement with said loop and adapted to be put over the ends of the members to engage the ratchet-teeth, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination With a cover or shield shaped to lie over the inner end of the hub of a vehicle, said shield having a reduced end, of a clamp or holder for holding the shield in place consisting of spring members 1 1 connected by bar 2 having a transverse opening 3, said screwin the upper end of the bar extending into said opening, ratchet-teeth on the lower end of the spring members, and a. link 7 of sufficient length to engage the ratchetteeth, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALEXANDER P. MOREHOUSE. lVitnesses G. A. JACKSON, RANDALL H. KNAPP. 

